Questions and Answers
What is the unit of frequency equal to one trillion Hertz?
What is the relationship between the frequency and wavelength of light?
What determines the type of em radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum?
What is a hertz defined as?
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What is unique about the speed of light?
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What is the range of frequencies for visible light?
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What happens to light when it shines on an object?
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What did Homer describe the ocean as?
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What is the color of light with a frequency of 592 THz?
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What is the purpose of a prism in relation to light?
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What do researchers use to understand how animals see colors?
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Why is the sky not white if the sun shines white light?
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Which of the following animals can see in the ultraviolet range?
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What is a characteristic of the mantis shrimp's eyes?
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How do dogs see the world?
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Study Notes
Frequency of Light
- Light is a form of electromagnetic (em) radiation that travels through space as a wave.
- The frequency of em radiation varies, and the visible light frequency is 400 THz to 700 THz, which is a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
- A Terahertz (THz) is a unit of frequency equal to one trillion Hertz.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
- The electromagnetic spectrum is categorized by frequency, increasing from right to left.
- The spectrum includes radio, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma ray frequencies.
Wave Characteristics
- Frequency is the number of oscillations or repeats of a cycle in one second.
- A single wavelength is one complete wave.
- Light with a longer wavelength has a smaller frequency, and light with a shorter wavelength has a larger frequency.
- The equation c = λf relates frequency and wavelength, where c is the speed of light, λ is wavelength, and f is frequency.
Visible Light Frequency
- Visible light occurs between 400 THz and 700 THz, with red at the lower end and violet at the higher end.
- The frequency increases from red to violet, and the wavelength decreases.
- White light is a combination of all (or many) colors of the spectrum, but it is not a visible color on the spectrum.
Color Perception
- When light shines on an object, the object's atoms absorb the light, vibrate, and release it, emitting light of a specific frequency or color.
- Different materials emit different colors, which is why we see different colors.
- The color we see is a result of the light that is emitted or reflected.
- Color is not just a property of light, but also of our perception of it.
Color Frequency
- There are seven pure spectral colors in the light color spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
- The colors are ordered from lowest frequency to highest, and reversed in order by wavelength.
- The approximate frequency ranges for each color are:
- Red: 400-480 THz
- Orange: 480-510 THz
- Yellow: 510-530 THz
- Green: 530-600 THz
- Blue: 600-670 THz
- Indigo: 670-700 THz
- Violet: 700-750 THz
The Nature of Color
- The frequency of a beam of light can be measured using a photometer and math.
- However, the interpretation of color is influenced by personal experiences, cultural knowledge, and perception.
- Different people may interpret the same color differently, but the physical properties of light remain the same.
- Non-human eyes, such as those of animals, can see different colors or frequencies than human eyes.
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Description
Learn about the frequency of light and its position in the electromagnetic spectrum, which ranges from radio waves to gamma rays. Understand the unit of frequency Terahertz and its relation to Hertz.
